System and method of water purification utilizing an ionomer membrane

ABSTRACT

A water purification system utilizes an ionomer membrane and mild vacuum to draw water from source water through the membrane. A water source may be salt water or a contaminated water source. The water drawn through the membrane passes across the condenser chamber to a condenser surface where it is condensed into purified water. The condenser surface may be metal or any other suitable surface and may be flat or pleated. In addition, the condenser surface may be maintained at a lower temperature than the water on the water source side of the membrane. The ionomer membrane may be configured in a cartridge, a pleated or flat plate configuration. A latent heat loop may be configured to carry the latent heat of vaporization from the condenser back to the water source side of the ionomer membrane. The source water may be heated by a solar water heater.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 62/244,709, filed on Oct. 21, 2015 and entitled Systemand Method of Water Purification Utilizing an Ionomer Membrane, U.S.provisional patent application No. 62/385,178, filed on Sep. 8, 2016 andentitled Electrochemical Desalination System and U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 62/385,176, filed on Sep. 8, 2016 and entitled OzoneGenerator System; the entirety of all applications listed are herebyincorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was made with government support under Grant no.DE-SC0015923 awarded by Department of Energy. The government has certainrights in the invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to water purification includingdesalination utilizing an ionomer membrane.

Background

Moisture transport through membranes is a viable method of waterpurification based on material exclusion and transport selectivity.Ionomer membranes with very small pores and high tortuosity caneffectively transport water while rejecting salts, pathogens, silt, andthe like, therein providing high purity potable water. Reverse osmosisutilizes high pressure to force water through a filter membrane and isfrequently used to produce potable or purified water commercially and inhomes. Unfortunately, reverse osmosis requires high pressure for highflux rates through the membrane.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,500,960B, to Ehrenberg et al., discloses a selectivemass transfer system that may be utilized for material separation, suchfor example removing water from sea water. However, the embodimentsprovided in Ehrenberg et al., and literature to date, have onlydisclosed the actual membrane separation unit and have not identifiedimportant elements that are required to create an efficient and in somecases a remote and portable system. For example, sea water normally hascomponents such as particulates that need to be removed prior to themembrane based multi-phase separation system, since particulates candamage the membranes. In addition, water purification systems requireenergy to perform the selective process and integrating independentpower generation into the overall system have not been disclosed oranalyzed. Desalination and water purification may be required in remoteareas where grid power is not available. System efficiency is also animportant consideration.

There exists a need for a water purification system that is energyefficient, can be configured remotely and that both desalinates waterand purifies it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a water purification system utilizing anionomer membrane and mild vacuum to draw the water through the membrane.In an exemplary embodiment, water is drawn through an ionomer membrane,from a water source side of the membrane to the condenser side of themembrane and into a condenser chamber. The water drawn through themembrane passes across the condenser chamber to a condenser surfacewhere it is condensed into purified water. The source water on the watersource side of the ionomer membrane may be heated to an elevatedtemperature to increase the rate of transport through the ionomermembrane. In addition, the condenser surface may be maintained at alower temperature than the water on the water source side of themembrane. The ionomer membrane may be configured in a cartridge, apleated or a flat, plate configuration. On the water source side of theionomer membrane, a volume of water is provided, such as salt water,brackish water or a water source the contains impurities, hereinaftercollectively referred to as contaminated water or source water. On theoutlet side of the membrane is a condenser chamber, having an openvolume, space fore the transport of liquid water vapor that has passedthrough the membrane. The water vapor in the condenser chamber iscondensed on a condenser surface to produce purified liquid water. Amild vacuum is provided to the condenser chamber to draw the waterthrough the ionomer membrane, such as about 0.5 atmospheres. The ionomermembrane selectively transports the water molecules through the membranewhile leaving salts and any other impurities within the source water onthe water source side or inlet side of the ionomer membrane.

Any suitable ionomer membrane may be used including, perfluorosulfonicacid ionomer membranes, such as NAFION® available from DuPont Inc., or asupported ionomer membrane, or composite membrane, having a supportstructure and at least one type of ionomer, such as Gore-Select®membranes available from W.L. Gore and Associates. A support structuremay be an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane, ePTFE membrane,that is imbibed with an ionomer. A composite or supported membrane maybe much thinner than a cast ionomer membrane, as the support structurerestrains the ionomer and provides mechanical support. Compositemembranes may be as thin as about 25 μm or less, about 20 μm or less,about 15 μm or less, or any range between and including the thicknessesprovided and still have sufficient mechanical integrity. The thinner themembrane, the less resistance to flow through the membrane and thereforehigher flow rates of water.

The equivalent weight, EW, of the ionomer, the weight of molecular massper sulfonic acid group, affects the hydration state of the membrane andthe water flux rate. While equivalent weights of 1100 or 1200 are commonfor cast membranes, lower equivalent weights ionomers such as 700, 800,900, and less than 1000 may have stability issues when not supported. Inan exemplary embodiment, the ionomer membrane is a composite membranehaving a support structure and a low equivalent weight ionomer, such asless than about 1000, less than about 900 or less than about 800 EW. Theionomer membrane water flux and permeability selectivity is a functionof many parameters including, ionomer chemistry, the degree of hydrationof the membrane, thickness of membrane, adsorption and desorptionkinetics and component activity difference across membrane. Existingionomer membranes have published water flux rates of 0.6 to 0.9gal/m²-hr depending on the ionomer chemistry and the design of thesystem.

In one embodiment, the ionomer membrane is an asymmetric membrane havingnon-uniform properties from one side, the inlet side, to the opposingside, the outlet side. For example, the inlet side may have exposedionomer that is hydrophilic and the exit side may comprise an exposedhydrophobic material, such as expanded PTFE membrane and/or afluoropolymer or fluoropolymer coating containing CF3 groups, which areknown to reduce surface energy and render surface hydrophobic as well asoleophobic. The hydrophobic nature on the outlet side may prevent ordeter water from re-entering the membrane. In another embodiment, anionomer membrane, may comprise two different ionomer types, a carboxylicacid or sulfonic acid ionomer, for example. One side may comprise asulfonic acid ionomer and the opposing side may comprise a carboxylicacid ionomer.

Other ionomer membrane compositions that may be useful in the presentinvention are taught U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/352,321,filed on Jun. 20, 2016, to Bahar, at al., U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 62/352,333, filed on Jun. 20, 2016 to Bahar, et al.,U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/373,325, filed on Aug. 10,2016, to Bahar, and U.S. Pat. No. 9,457,324, issued on Oct. 4, 2016, toXergy Inc., the entirety of all are hererby incorporated by referenceherein.

The water purification system may comprise flat ionomer membrane plates,or panels, pleated membrane surface to increase the surface area pervolume or a cartridge configuration with the membrane being formed as aninner or outer wall of the cartridge. In an exemplary embodiment, theionomer membrane is configured is configured with pleats or corrugationsto increase the surface are per unit area of the ionomer membranesurface. In an exemplary embodiment, the ionomer membrane is configuredinto a cartridge, wherein the water source side of the ionomer membraneextends in a cylinder and may be facing out or inward. A ionomermembrane cartridge may further comprise pleats or corrugations toincrease the surface area per unit volume.

For a given membrane chemistry, morphology and experimental setup, thewater transport through the membrane is a function of the difference inwater activity across the membrane. In an exemplary embodiment, thecondenser chamber is under vacuum, such as about 0.25 atmospheres ormore, about 0.5 atmospheres or more, about 1.0 atmospheres and any rangebetween and including the vacuum pressures provided. The vacuum withinthe condenser chamber draws the water through the membrane and reducesthe activity of water on the condenser side of the membrane. Inaddition, the water source side, or inlet side, may be heated or be atan elevated temperature with respect to the temperature of the condenserchamber. The water source side may be elevated to a temperature or atemperature differential over the condenser chamber of about 20° C. ormore, about 40° C. or more about 50° C. or more, about 40° C. to 80° C.and any temperature range between and including the values provided. Aheating loop with a heater in thermal communication with the water inthe water source side may be used to heat or maintain a temperature,T_(H), on the water source side of the water purification system.

The water source side or a portion thereof, may be a color that increaseradiant heat absorption, such as black, to heat water retained therein.In an exemplary embodiment, radiant heat from sunlight is used toprovide heat to the water source side or to the heating loop. Likewise,the condenser side may be a color to minimize radiant heat absorption,such as white or a reflective color. The water source side may absorbradiant energy from the sunlight while the condenser side reflect orabsorbs far less radiant heat, thereby creating a temperature gradientbetween the two sides.

An exemplary water purification system may comprise a water sourceheating loop that carries source water from the water source side of theionomer membrane to a heating device and back to the water source sideof the ionomer membrane. A heating device may be a solar heating device,whereby the source water is heated by solar radiation. Conduits of thewater source heating loop may be a color to absorb solar radiation, suchas black and may be serpentine to increase the exposure time to thesolar heating portion of the water source heating loop. The water sourceheating loop may comprise a solar water heater.

An exemplary water purification system may comprise a latent heat loopthat transfer heat from the condenser to the water source side of theionomer membrane via the source water. A conduit may extend from thewater source side of the ionomer membrane to a latent heat chamber inletand a second conduit may extend from the outlet of the, latent heatchamber to the water source side of the ionomer membrane. Source watermay circulate through the latent heat loop and conduct the latent heatof vaporization from the latent heat surface of the condenser as itflows over the latent heat surface. The temperature of the source waterat the latent heat chamber may be less than the temperature of thesource water at the outlet of the latent heat chamber. This use of thelatent heat of vaporization increases the efficiency of the system andreduces power requirements.

In an exemplary embodiment, the water, on the condenser side of thewater purification is pumped to the water source side. The water on thecondenser side may be heated by the latent heat of vaporization from thewater condensing on the condenser surface and this latent heat ofvaporization heats the water on the condenser side. By using thecondenser exit water as makeup water for the membrane liquid reservoirthe heat of vaporization for some/all of the prevaporated water will bereturned to the supply side of the membrane. This is mechanicallysimilar to a counter current heat exchanger, however in this case theheat is transferred by pervaporation and condensation. The energyliberated by condensation is returned to the water source side by havingthe heated cooling water discharge to the membrane water sourcereservoir or water source side, of the ionomer membrane. In addition,this condensed water flow may be controlled to prevent the membraneliquid reservoir from exceeding salt solubility limits.

In addition, the water purification system may comprise one or morewater dumps that may be used to expel source water from the system as itmay reach a threshold salinity level. A source water dump valve may beconfigured at any suitable location but preferably where it will notcarry too much heat away from the system. An exemplary location of asource water dump valve and outlet is in a latent heat loop just priorto the latent heat chamber. In addition, some water may be dumped towaste or out of the system to control salinity levels or watertemperature on the water source side, such as to prevent the watersource side from becoming too hot, for example.

Make-up water may be pumped into the system as required, such asdirectly into the water source side or into the condenser side, such asinto the latent heat chamber or into, a conduit of a heating loop, andmay then be circulated or pumped to the water source side

The condenser surface may be metal or any other suitable surface and maybe flat or pleated. The condenser may separate the condenser chamberfrom the latent heat chamber and may be substantially gas impermeable.

The partial pressure of water at the membrane outlet side of thecondenser chamber is higher than the pressure on the condenser surface.The condenser surface may be metal that is at a lower temperature thanthe water source side. As the water condenses on the condenser surface,the latent heat of vaporization is released and may be transportedthrough the condenser material to the condenser side of the waterpurification system. This drop in pressure, dP, across the condenserchamber will cause the water vapor to flow from membrane surface to thecondenser surface and heat to flow through condenser into the water onthe condenser side. The purified condensed water will be drawn out ofthe condenser chamber and can be used for drinking and the like.

The summary of the invention is, provided as a general introduction tosome of the embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to belimiting. Additional example embodiments including variations andalternative configurations of the invention are provided herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of an exemplary water purification system havinga water sources side separated from a condenser chamber by an ionomermembrane and a condenser surface for condensing the water that passesthrough the ionomer membrane.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section view of an ex exemplary ionomer membrane.

FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of an exemplary water purificationcartridge having a pleated ionomer membrane portion.

FIG. 4 show a top-down view of an exemplary water purification system ina concentric configuration.

FIG. 5 show a top down view of an exemplary water purification system ina concentric configuration.

FIG. 6 show a perspective view of an exemplary remote water purificationsystem having a solar water heater and solar panels as well as a fuelell for power requirements.

FIG. 7 shows a diagram of an exemplary solar powered system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the figures. The figures represent anillustration of some of the embodiments of the present invention and arenot to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in anymanner. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale, some featuresmay be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore,specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not tobe interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis forteaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the presentinvention.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,”“including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, areintended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus. Also, use of “a” or “an” are employed to describeelements and components described herein. This is done merely forconvenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention.This description should be read to include one or at least one and thesingular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meantotherwise.

Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are describedherein and are illustrated in the accompanying figures. The embodimentsdescribed are only for purposes of illustrating the present inventionand should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention.Other embodiments of the invention, and certain modifications,combinations and improvements of the described embodiments, will occurto those skilled in the art and all such alternate embodiments,combinations, modifications, improvements are within the scope of thepresent invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 an exemplary water purification system 10 has anionomer membrane 12 that separates a water source chamber 14 containingsource water 40 from a condenser chamber 70. The membrane separator 11allows water 55 from the source water to pass from the water source side20 of the ionomer membrane 12 to the condenser side 29 of the ionomermembrane and into the condenser chamber 70. This water 55, in vaporphase is then condensed on the condenser surface 72 surface of thecondenser 71. Condensed water 78 then flows out of the condenser wateroutlet 90. When the water source is salt water, clean desalinated waterwill be produced in the condenser chamber and will be suitable fordrinking and consumption. A vacuum device 80 is coupled with thecondenser chamber 70 and produces a vacuum pressure in the condenserchamber to increase the flow of water through the ionomer membrane.Vacuum is drawn on the condenser chamber and the partial pressure of thewater vapor P_(H20) in the condenser chamber drops from the condenserside of the membrane 29 to the condenser surface 72, as shown. Purifiedclean water is drawn out of the condenser chamber for use. A pluralityof heating loops are used, to heat the source water and one or morevalves may control the flow of water from the condenser side and/or thewater reservoir to the water source side. Water from the water sourceside and/or the condenser side may be pumped or released from the systemas required by the system requirements

As shown in FIG. 1, the source water 40 is heated by a water sourceheating loop 52 that carries water from the water source chamber 14 to aheating device 50 and back to the water source chamber. The temperatureof the source water at the water source heating loop inlet TH2 may belower than the temperature of the source water at the water sourceheating loop outlet TH1, as the source, water is heated by the heatingdevice 50. A heating device 50 may be solar heater or a solar hot waterheater, for example. It may also draw heat from a power source, such asfrom a fuel cell or from the pumps, wherein heat from these devices maybe conducted by a flow of source water. Conduits may extend around apower source, i.e. fuel, cell, or around a vacuum, or water pump.

As shown in FIG. 1, the source water 40 is heated by a latent heat loopthat conducts heat from the condenser. A latent heat chamber 75 extendsalong the latent heat surface 74 of the condenser 71. A flow of sourcewater 40 passes over the latent heat surface and back to the watersource chamber 14. A latent heat loop conduit 49 extends from the latentheat chamber outlet 73 back to the water source chamber 14 and a latentheat loop conduit 49′ extends from the water source chamber 14 to thelatent heat chamber inlet, thereby producing a heating loop.

As shown in FIG. 1, a water reservoir 94 is utilized to provide make-upwater as the source water is depleted through the water purificationsystem and/or is dumped to control heat and/or salinity. A make-up watervalve 99 may be used to control the flow of source water into thesystem. The system may comprise one or more dump valves, such as asource water dump valve 98 and a heat dump valve 97, both of whichexhaust source water from within the system.

As shown in FIG. 2, an exemplary ionomer membrane 12 is a supported orcomposite membrane having a support 22, such as an expanded PTFEmembrane an ionomer 21. The ionomer substantially fills the voids of theexpanded PTFE membrane and there are thin layers of ionomer on eitherside of the support. The water source side 20 of the ionomer membranemay be a hydrophilic surface 27 and comprise a hydrophilic material 27thereon. The condenser side 29 of the ionomer membrane may comprise ahydrophobic surface 24 and comprise a hydrophobic material 25, such asePTFE membrane or a fluoropolymer coating. The thickness 28 of theionomer membrane may be less than 25 μm as described herein, and may beless than 15 μm.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary water purification cartridge 110 having apleated ionomer membrane 23 configured around a condenser 71. Thecondenser in this embodiment is a tube that extends down through thecartridge creating a condenser chamber between the outside surface ofthe condenser surface 72 of the tube and the condenser side 29 of thepleated ionomer membrane. Water may flow through the condenser tube toprovide a cool influx of water for keeping the temperature of thecondenser low for condensation. A latent heat chamber 75 may beconfigured within the condenser tube. The cartridge comprises acartridge cap 112 and a cartridge bottom cap 116. A seal 113 may beconfigured between the caps and the components of the cartridge toproduce chambers. A water inlet 91 and condensed water outlet 90 areshown. The water source enclosure 48 enable the source water to becontained next to the ionomer membrane within the cartridge.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary water purification system 12 in a concentricconfiguration. The ionomer membrane 12 is configured around thecondenser chamber 70 and may be in a pleated configuration to increasethe surface area per volume. The condenser 71 is concentricallyconfigured inside of the ionomer membrane. A separate enclosure 48 isconfigured around the membrane and produces a water source chamber 14for retaining source water 40. A latent heat chamber 75 is configure inthe center and inside of the latent heat surface 74 of the condenser 71.The condenser chamber 70 is configured between the membrane 12 and thecondenser 71 and condensed water 78 is produce as the water 55 condensedon the condenser surface 72 of the condenser 71. This exemplary systemmay contain a certain volume of water or it may pump water through thesystem wherein the condenser side is a conduit, for example.

FIG. 5 show an exemplary water purification system 12 in a concentricconfiguration. In this alternative configuration the membrane 12 isconfigured within the interior of the system around the water sourcechamber 14 that contains source water 40. Water passes through themembrane to the condenser chamber 70 and is condensed on the condensersurface 72 of the condenser 71. A latent heat chamber 70 is configuredon the outer portion of the cartridge between the enclosure 48 and thecondenser 71. Again, water may be pumped through the system or this maybe a closed cartridge, at least on one side.

As shown in FIG. 6, an exemplary water purification system 10 comprisesa membrane separator 11, a condenser portion 17 and a heating device 50.An inlet 32 for source water 40, such as salt water or water withimpurities, receives the source water and directs the source waterthrough a filtration system 30. The filtration system may have one ormore filter elements or modules to reduce physical components from thewater and absorb components from the water, such as an activated carbonfilter. The source water may then be fed to the source water reservoir43, such as a hot water tank 44 having a heating device 50, or to thelatent chamber 75, configured in the condenser portion 17. The sourcewater may travel in the latent heat loop which includes a latent heatloop conduit 49′ that couples source water from the water source side ofthe ionomer membrane to the latent heat chamber, and the latent heatloop conduit 49 that extends from the latent heat chamber back to thesource water reservoir 43. The source water may also be heated by awater source heat loop 52 that pulls source water from the water sourceside of the ionomer membrane, such as from the water source chamber orsource water reservoir and heats it and then returns it, such as to thewater source chamber, indirectly or indirectly. The water source heatloop has two conduits 53. 53′ for pulling water to be heated and forreturning the source water, respectively. The heating device of thewater source heat loop is a solar heater 51 configured with a solar hotwater heater 46. The water purification system also comprises a numberof valves, 99, 98, 97, for controlling the flow of water through thesystem and into and/or out of the system. Valves 99, 99′ control theflow of inlet source water to the system. Valves 98 and 97 may be used,to dump source water from the system for the purpose of controlling heator salinity of the source water. A pump 36 may control the flow ofsource water through the system. A vacuum device 80, such as a vacuumpump may create a vacuum within the condenser chamber to draw waterthrough the ionomer membrane and into the condenser chamber where it iscondensed to produce condensed water 78. The condensed water may befurther purified using a purifying device 120, such as an ozonegenerator or UV light source for example. An ozone generator may be anelectrochemical ozone generator, as described in U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 62,385,176, entitled Ozone Generator System which ishereby incorporated by reference herein. A condensed water outlet 90 orpurified water outlet 96 provide a flow of condensed water 78 orpurified water 88, respectively, depending on if the purifier device isutilized.

As shown in FIG. 6, electrical power is provided by portable powersupplies 60, 60′ including a solar power source 62 which includesphotovoltaic cells 63 and a fuel cell power device 66. The solar panelsmay provide power during daytime hours and the fuel cell may providepower at night or during periods of low radiation. In an alternativeembodiment, a rechargeable battery 68 is used and is charged by thesolar panels and then provides power during low light conditions. Arechargeable metal ion battery, such as available from Fluidic Energy,Phoenix, Ariz., may be employed for this purpose.

The filtration system 30, may be a multistage filtration system having emany different combinations. An exemplary and common combination is5-micron polypropylene sediment melt blown filter, CTO carbon blockcartridge, and GAC coconut Shell Carbon Filter. Sediment filter removessand and big particles, Carbon& GAC filter remove odors, taste &chemicals, including chlorine, herbicides, and pesticides. Since thesefilters provide purifier water to the rest of system, it reduced chanceof fouling, which could increase the lifetime of the whole system. Awater purification system may employ a filtration system and a purifierdevice.

Referring to FIG. 7, a solar power system could be used to provideelectrical power to run the desalination system. A photovoltaic solarpanel produce electrical, power from solar radiation. Multiple solarpanels 151 could be connected in series or in parallel. They arecontrolled by the solar charge controller 152. A power invertor 153 maybe required to convert DC to AC current. Finally, electrical energyproduced by the solar panels or a portion thereof, may be stored n abattery bank 154.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations and variations can be made in the presentinvention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.Specific embodiments, features and elements described herein may bemodified, and/or combined in any suitable manner. Thus, it is intendedthat the present invention cover the modifications, combinations andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A water purification system comprising: a) amembrane separator comprising: i) an ionomer membrane having watersource side and a condenser side; ii) a condenser; iii) condenserchamber formed between the ionomer membrane and the condenser; whereinsource water at a first temperature is configured on the water sourceside of the ionomer membrane; wherein the condenser chamber ismaintained at a second temperature that is below the first temperature;and wherein water is drawn through the ionomer membrane from the sourcewater to condenser chamber where it condenses on the condenser to frompurified water; b) a purified water outlet from the condenser chamber.2. The water purification system of claim 1, further comprising a vacuumdevice that is coupled with the condenser chamber and configured tocreate a vacuum pressure within the condenser chamber to draw waterthrough the ionomer membrane.
 3. The water purification system of claim1, wherein the ionomer membrane comprises a perfluorosulfonic acidionomer.
 4. The water purification system of claim 1, wherein theionomer membrane comprises a perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer having anequivalent weight of no more a
 1000. 5. The water purification system ofclaim 1, wherein the ionomer membrane is a composite ionomer membranehaving a support configured with an ionomer and wherein the ionomercomprises a perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer having an equivalent weightof no more than
 900. 6. The water purification system of claim 1,wherein the ionomer membrane is composite ionomer membrane having asupport configured with an ionomer and wherein the ionomer comprises aperfluorosulfonic acid ionomer having an equivalent weight of no morethan
 800. 7. The water purification system of claim 1, wherein theionomer membrane has a hydrophobic condenser side.
 8. The waterpurification system of claim 7, wherein the hydrophobic condenser sidecomprises a permeable fluoropolymer layer.
 9. The water purificationsystem of claim 1, wherein the ionomer membrane has a hydrophobiccondenser side and a hydrophilic water source side.
 10. The waterpurification system of claim 1, further comprising a heater to heat thesource water.
 11. The water purification system of claim 10, wherein theheater to heat the source water comprises a solar heater.
 12. The waterpurification system of claim 11, wherein the solar heater comprises asolar hot water heater.
 13. The water purification system of claim 1,further comprising a make-up conduit that couples the condenser chamberto the water source side of the ionomer membrane.
 14. The waterpurification system of claim 1, further comprising a water make-upconduit that couples a water reservoir to the water source side of theionomer membrane.
 15. The water purification system of claim 1, furthercomprising a water make-up conduit that provides a mixture of water froma water reservoir and water from the condenser chamber.
 16. The waterpurification system of claim 1, further comprising a dump outlet and adump valve coupled with the water source side to dump water from thewater source side out of the water purification system.
 17. The waterpurification system of claim 1, further comprising a water sourceheating loop.
 18. The water purification system of claim 17, wherein thewater source heating loop comprises a solar water heater.
 19. The waterpurification system of claim 1, comprising a latent heating loopcomprising: a latent heat chamber having a latent heat chamber inlet anda latent heat chamber outlet: a flow of, source water over a latent heatsurface of the condenser in said latent heat chamber wherein said flowof source water increases in temperature from said latent heat inlet tosaid latent heat outlet: a latent heat loop comprising: a conduitextending from the latent heat chamber outlet to the water source sideof the ionomer membrane; and a conduit extending from the latent heatchamber inlet to the water source side of the ionomer membrane; whereinsource water flows from the water source side of the ionomer membrane tothe latent heat chamber inlet, to the latent heat chamber outlet, andback to the water source side of the ionomer membrane.
 20. The waterpurification system of claim 1, wherein the ionomer membrane is anasymmetric membrane comprises a first side consisting essentially of asulfonic acid ionomer and a second and opposing side consistingessentially of a carboxylic acid ionomer.
 21. A water purificationsystem comprising: a) a membrane separator comprising: i) an ionomermembrane having a water source side and a condenser side; iii) acondenser; iii) condenser chamber formed between the ionomer membraneand the condenser; wherein source water at a first temperature isconfigured on the water source side of the ionomer membrane; wherein thecondenser chamber is maintained at a second temperature that is belowthe first temperature; and wherein water is drawn through the ionomermembrane from the source water to condenser chamber where it condenseson the condenser to form purified water; iv) a vacuum device that iscoupled with the condenser chamber and configured to create a vacuumpressure within the condenser chamber to draw water through the ionomermembrane; b) a purified water outlet from the condenser chamber; c) alatent heating loop comprising: a latent heat chamber having a latentheat chamber inlet and a latent heat chamber outlet; a flow of sourcewater over a latent heat surface of the condenser in said latent heatchamber wherein said flow of source water increases in temperature fromsaid latent heat inlet to said latent heat outlet; a latent heat loopcomprising: a conduit extending from the latent heat chamber outlet tothe water source side of the ionomer membrane; and a conduit extendingfrom the latent heat chamber inlet to the water source side of theionomer membrane; wherein source water flows from the water source sideof the ionomer membrane, to the latent heat chamber inlet, to the latentheat chamber outlet, and back to the water source side of the ionomermembrane.